9/11 Attack Survivor on ESCAPING the WORLD TRADE CENTER | Giovanni Renteria

On the morning of September 11, 2001 Morgan Stanley employee Giovanni Renteria was attending a training seminar on the 64th floor in the South Tower of the World Trade Center. During a short break, Renteria headed to the ground floor and as he was exiting the building noticed a large amount of debris falling from the North Tower. The remnants of American Airlines Flight 11.

Rushing back inside the building, Renteria and his fellow co-workers stood in the lobby of the South Tower trying to game plan what to do next. It was then that the South Tower was hit by United Airlines Flight 175 and September 11, 2001 turned into a harrowing day of survival for Giovanni Renteria.
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Interview recoded on November 5th, 2022

Video Credits:
Interviewer - Greg Corombos
Director of Photography - Jon Hambacker
Editor - Daniel Taksas

[jeniferburton]

I will never get tired of watching 9/11 survival stories.

[kieshawilliams]

I’m sorry, but the fact that a whole plane flew into the world trade center and they had the audacity to tell people they were safe and not evacuate is Beyond me!

[AlexIsModded]

Something that 9/11 taught me at a very young age, was to never be so dedicated to authority or your job in general, that you'll go back up an elevator just because someone says you have to. No one knew the second plane would hit, and no one knew that tower two would collapse. What I do know is that my life is and always will be more important than a job. I can get another job.

[mitchellvillareal]

What gives me chills is stories from people who were meant to be in the world trade centers on 9/11, but something happened in their daily life out of the norm and they missed work that day. God bless all effected by this tragedy

[jadebot]

Thank you for not adding any crazy music or editing. Just the story. Perfect

[whiskersredwood]

That guy that prayed with him helped save his life.

[phyld]

Wow when he said ‘I’m on borrowed time’I felt a chill. Lucky man to have survived.

[KingWelshy]

"Now they know that the reason why I'm optimistic and the glass is half full, is because I'm on borrowed time. I shouldn't be here!"
That is a deep statement man.

I'll rather say he's on blessed time, because he chose to hear a prayer of protection over him, and then chose to stay, rather than go back for items that, honestly a lot of us would've gone back up for!
Shout out to that person who did that prayer, because what ever words of discernment came out, did enough to resonate to this gentleman, for him to stay where he was, and live the life he's SUPPOSED to. ⭐❤️🙌🏾

[AnxMa]

There was this really moving scene. Several days after the attacks; the responders and construction workers who were removing and clearing the rubble; they were doing it with such a regard and consideration for the potential undiscovered victims. Even the people who were operating the big and heavy excavators were using such caution and sensitivity. I got some filmmaking/acting experience and I swear, they deserve a tribute, especially since many of them suffered and died of cancer and other related illnesses. And a big thank you for anyone who fought for the James Zadroga Compensation act!

[thergoezthatman]

Thank you so much for this interview. 9/11 survivors experienced a major historical event just like our soldiers did. Their stories deserve to be recorded and remember for future generations.

[curt]

I met a RF technician a few years back over in Europe, who told me he worked in the US and a few days after 9/11 decided to go back to Europe. So I asked why and he told me that on the morning of 9/11 he got a service call to the deck of Tower 1 to diagnose a RF transmitter. He was working with a colleague who had never been on the deck and when they finished their work, they stood up and enjoyed the views. They took the elevator down, walked pass the security saying goodbye and walked out the door, just as the first plane hit the tower. He said they immediately ran to their service truck and drove away, through the tunnel to NJ where they parked and then watched as the second tower was also hit. He said he couldn't handle the fact that he cheated death and needed to get away from the reminder, so went back home.

[kermitthecrog]

That person who stopped him to pray saved his life. ❤️

[thomashelmka]

He stopped for a moment to say a prayer. Those few seconds of mental focus with a co-worker saved his life.

[nicolecasey]

I went on a walking tour in NYC last year (I’m from London) and our tour guide told us a story at the 9/11 memorial, he told us about Morgan Stanley’s security team and main security manager had everyone so prepared for a threat like this, they had evacuation plans and did drills all the time, nobody ever understood this. Most of Morgan Stanley successfully got out on 9/11 except the main guy himself who was responsible for the whole company being prepared enough to get out. What a hero, I cried listening to that on the tour, so it’s great to listen to this.

[FFEMTB]

This is history that needs to be documented for the rest of time. Thank you for this.

[breezy-duz-it]

WOW chills. I was not expecting the story to start the way it did and it is blowing my mind a little. My uncle Alan was also in the building that day, with Morgan Stanley, and in the room with Philip Roth at the 8am meeting on the 64th floor of Tower 2... He also went down for a break after to smoke, saw the man yelling to get back in the building as the first plane hit, and he survived the event praise God ❤️ Thank you for sharing your story. (Edit: I am so convinced my Uncle Alan is the one this story refers to as he has spoken of convincing those he was with to not go back up … and he also spoke of the man he was with Every detail is the same…what are the

[AG-tbqt]

I was 28 on 9/11 and living on the west coast. I’m amazed at how many stories there are from that day that I’ve never heard. This is one of them. Grateful to you for sharing ❤

[henriettahenson]

My sisters friend went to a conference that day she died...SHE was British... So sad RIP SARAH...❤️🙏❤️

[blasphemertheseventh]

When building security says “everything is fine” … RUN!

[LightningJackFlash]

His decision after the prayer... completely changed his mind... That was God saving him... Blessed.